Subject:Euro-Disco, Italo Disco, Hi-NRG, Europop ...

Written By:whistledogon08/18/07 at 11:48 pm

The wonderful world of 80s dance music. There's a whole world of 80s dance hits out there, some remembered, others not. Got any favourites? Got any recommendations? For starters, here's a few artists that I still listen to a bit ...

♦ Anyone remember US artist Roni Griffith? She was a one hit wonder in the UK chart with (The Best Part of) Breaking Up and was also a one hit wonder in Canada with Desire. Unfortunately she had no hits in the US Hot 100, but she did reach the US dance chart with several singles

♦ Here's one for the International folks. Anyone remember UK artist Jayne Collins? She had a 1985 hit called Madonna's Eyes. According to the UK and US 100 chart, it was not a success, but it was popular in Germany (I know this because I have a German cassette compilation called 'Hit Breaker - 16 Formel Top Hits' to which it appears). It was also a success in Canada

http://hitparade.ch/cdimages/jayne_collins-madonnas_eyes_s.jpg

♦ And of course, a big guilty pleasure for me is the German group Modern Talking, big international stars with several international hits, but unfortunately they only scored one Top 40 hit in both the UK and Canada with Brother Louie and . They had other minor hits in the UK, but this was their only chart single in Canada. To be honest, it's still a mystery to me how it even charted in Canada. Long before I had access to Canadian charts, I always thought it the song was familiar, but I wasn't sure because Euro-Disco music never made a big splash over here. Through all their success, they had no hits in America

Subject:Re: Euro-Disco, Italo Disco, Hi-NRG, Europop ...

Written By:robby76on08/19/07 at 12:45 am

Never heard of any of these before but they're pretty groovy - especially Roni Griffith.

Subject:Re: Euro-Disco, Italo Disco, Hi-NRG, Europop ...

Written By:Paulon08/19/07 at 11:59 am

Hi-NRG music...remember it well!

Originally an offshoot from disco, it basically involved cranking the beats up to nothing less than 120 beats per minute! It proved hugely popular in gay clubs firstly, before crossing over into the British charts for a few years in the 80s...

The early 'anthemic' stuff is quite good...here's just five that should be on anyone's list if they're remotely interested in the genre...

Subject:Re: Euro-Disco, Italo Disco, Hi-NRG, Europop ...

Written By:whistledogon08/19/07 at 1:11 pm

Hi-NRG music...remember it well!

Originally an offshoot from disco, it basically involved cranking the beats up to nothing less than 120 beats per minute! It proved hugely popular in gay clubs firstly, before crossing over into the British charts for a few years in the 80s...

The early 'anthemic' stuff is quite good...here's just five that should be on anyone's list if they're remotely interested in the genre...

Pino d'Angio - Ma Quale Idea(The bassline from this song was used for "Don't Call Me Baby" by Madison Avenue)

Modified to add:

Let's not forget this cheesy one...

Andrea - I'm a Lover

Subject:Re: Euro-Disco, Italo Disco, Hi-NRG, Europop ...

Written By:Paulon10/23/07 at 4:15 pm

Only three of those had some kind of success here...

Starlight hit on the back of the Italo-house boom (along with Black Box, naturally!)

Desireless took two attempts and one remix to crash into the Top 10...

La Bionda lost out to a 'cover' by Jonathan King, who seemed to have a thing for swiping Euro-hits...'Paloma Blanca' was one and he also took 'Gloria' on her first British chart outing. three years before Laura Branigan did the trick...

Subject:Re: Euro-Disco, Italo Disco, Hi-NRG, Europop ...

Written By:Henkon10/23/07 at 4:37 pm

Only three of those had some kind of success here...

Starlight hit on the back of the Italo-house boom (along with Black Box, naturally!)

Desireless took two attempts and one remix to crash into the Top 10...

La Bionda lost out to a 'cover' by Jonathan King, who seemed to have a thing for swiping Euro-hits...'Paloma Blanca' was one and he also took 'Gloria' on her first British chart outing. three years before Laura Branigan did the trick...

I've added chart info for The Netherlands... We're a funny people we are.

Desireless needed a remix? :o Now that is shocking!

Subject:Re: Euro-Disco, Italo Disco, Hi-NRG, Europop ...

Written By:whistledogon10/23/07 at 6:23 pm

I love a few of those, especially that Desireless track. I didn't know Starlight and Black Box were one in the same. I really enjoy(ed) Black Box :)

Here's some more Italo Disco, Hi-NRG, songs that I love ...Some that didn't make the Canadian 100 Singles Chart (and some that did) were also popular in the dance clubs

With the exception of Madleen Kane (Sweden), One 2 Many (Norway), Industry (America) Time Bandits and Doris D and the Pins (both from Netherlands), all the rest of these artists are Canadian ...